SUBJECT: Social/Emotional Needs of Gifted Students

FACT OR MYTH: GIFTED STUDENTS HAVE HIGHER

INCIDENCES OF DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND SUICIDE.

MYTH

Gifted students DO NOT show higher prevalence rates of depression, suicide, or anxiety.(Neihart 2002)

HOWEVER…

Heightened Sensitivity – Gifted and Talented students often have stronger, deeper, more enduring reactions to stimuli than their age peers.

DEPRESSIONFACT OR MYTH: Gifted students exhibit depression differently and at a higher rate than their non-gifted peers.

MYTH

CHARACTERISTICS Resource: The Social and Emotional Development of Gifted

Children

Neihart concluded that the characteristics that are unique to gifted students may also be risk factors for the development of depression.

 Characteristics1.  High Cognitive Functioning2.  Unrealistic Expectations3.  Associating With Adults

Quantitative Conclusion  Empirical studies have shown little to no quantitative

differences in the occurances of depression in gifted and non-gifted students.

Qualitative ConclusionHowever, in a study conducted by Peterson, there was a

difference in how gifted students experienced depression. They were more likely to experience a premature existential depression than their average peers.

Existential Depression- Struggling with questions about the meaning of life.( Berndt, Kaiser &Van Aalst, 1982; ; Jackson,1998; Webb, Meckstroth &Tobin, 1993).

Warning Signs of DepressionWhat should teachers look for? Prolonged sadness Loss of interest in all activities Change in appetite or weight Sleeping too much Decreased energy Overwhelmed by small tasks feelings of worthlessness,

guilt, and low self-esteem Difficulty thinking,

concentrating or remembering

Difficulty making decisions Negative thoughts about

oneself in the world or the future

Tired or listless Repeated thoughts of suicide,

including planning or attempting.

Ways to Affect Change

Integrate Service Projects into the classroom

Resource:www.teachpeacenow.org

ANXIETYFACT OR MYTH: Gifted children experience most of their anxiety for the same reasons as non-gifted children, and the same coping strategies should be used with both.

MYTH

Gifted children typically experience anxiety for much different reasons than non-gifted children, and there are specific ways to help gifted children cope with their particular kinds of anxiety.

Research from Tracy Cross’s studies proves that anxiety isn’t more prevalent in gifted children, and that being gifted does not make a child prone to personality disorders/differences such as anxiety.

Many anxious gifted children are misdiagnosed as being OCD because symptoms can be very similar.

Typical Reasons that the Gifted Child Experiences Anxiety

SituationalSelf-ImposedExistential

Refer to poster board for additional information

Tips to Help Gifted Kids with Anxiety/Stress InterpersonalIntrapersonalContemplative Practices

Refer to PowerPoint on Ipad for additional information

SUICIDE"Although it is a popular notion that gifted

children are at risk for higher rates of depression and suicide than their average, no empirical data supports this belief, except for students who are creatively gifted in the visual arts and writing (see Neihart & Olenchak, this volume).  Nor, however, is there good evidence that rates of depression and suicide are significantly lower among populations of gifted children."  Gifted Children and Depression by Maureen Neihart, in The Social and Emotional Development of Gifted Children: What Do We Know?  by Maureen Neihart, Sally M. Reis, Nancy M. Robinson, Sidney M. Moon

SIGNS OF SUICIDE Changes in sleep and/or appetite

patterns, Decline in school performance, Increased social withdrawal, Loll in interest and pleasure in

previously enjoyable activities, Changes in appearance, for instance

no longer caring for one's clothes, Preoccupation with themes of ones

death or the theme of death itself, Increased irritability and behavioral

problems, Giving away important possessions,

Use of drugs and alcohol, History of a previous suicide

attempt, History of abuse and neglect, History of learning disabilities and a

sense of failure, Frequent somatic complaints, al expressions of self death

statements such as "I wish I were dead,"

No longer concerned about making plans for the future,

Depressed mood.

COUNSELING

FACT OR MYTH: According to Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, a gifted child’s emotional growth is overdeveloped.

MYTH

According to Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, a gifted child’s emotional growth is underdeveloped.

Source: http://www.sengifted.org/archives/articles/directors-corner-the-psychosocial-development-of-gifted-children

Why can talented individuals benefit from counseling?Failure to live up to high expectations may lead to

anxiety and depressionGifted students may self-medicate distress with

illegal substances and even drop out of school. Gifted youth with extreme talent may not be

socially and emotionally prepared to handle the power and attention that such levels of ability often generate.

Elementary Education Teachers

Develop a feeling vocabulary with students

http://www.sengifted.org/archives/articles/developing-a-feeling-vocabulary

Secondary Education Teachers1. Nourish your students socially2. Teach them to find emotional acceptance and

growth3. Provide philosophical nurturing

(Ginnott, 1972)